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A Texas Catholic charity that worked with immigrants has been barred from receiving federal government funds, after an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) found multiple violations in the group’s handling of funds.

The DHS charged that an audit of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley—an organization that has been criticized by the Trump administration for encouraging illegal immigration—discovered inaccuracies and gaps in the financial records. The finding could lead to a 6-year ban on federal funding.

Belarus: priests' future uncertain after pardon and release (Forum 18)

Posted on 12/1/2025 03:12 AM (CatholicCulture.org - Catholic World News)

Two Catholic priests who were sentenced to labor camps in Belarus after conviction on highly questionable charges of “crimes against the state” have been pardoned and released. But the government has not yet indicated whether they will be allowed to return to their parish assignments.

Father Henryk Okolotovich and Father Andrei Yukhnevich were released from their labor-camp sentences on November 20, and immediately flown out of the country; they are now in Rome. They were pardoned by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, not long after the Belarus leader had met with Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, who raised the question of their imprisonment.

The two priests had been convicted in a closed-court trial. They have insisted that they are completely innocent, and their supporters believe the charges were spurious.

December papal prayer intention: for Christians in areas of conflict (Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network)

Posted on 12/1/2025 02:12 AM (CatholicCulture.org - Catholic World News)

The December papal prayer intention, disseminated by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (formerly known as the Apostleship of Prayer), is “let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.”

Papal prayer intentions are announced a year in advance and are customarily retained by the new Pontiff following his predecessor’s death.